However be warned that this is not a coming England team. This is an England team fighting to squeeze the most out of the life it has left together.

It makes sense to go big on the fast bowling front on bouncier and quicker pitches, but James Anderson, Stuart Broad and Graeme Swann will play all five Tests if fit.

The introduction of Ballance to the squad is an interesting one because it shows just how unconvinced the selectors are by James Taylor, Ravi Bopara, Eoin Morgan, Nick Compton and any other batsman they've tried recently.

Ballance has a great chance to stand up where those others have fallen and be a big part of England's future.

The likes of Kevin Pietersen will not be around forever.

The performance program really is about the next generation and Australia appear to have lost out on Middlesex opener Sam Robson who is named and has dual passports.

Spare a thought though for Graham Onions who is forced to play in South Africa rather than go on tour with England. He might get called up for an injury, but his form deserved more than that.